Clive Robinson
An eight-race card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 31 December brings the curtain down on local racing for 2022 and provides bettors with a final chance to end the year on a winning note.
There are several attractive betting propositions for punters to take advantage of and head into 2023 on a high.
Grant van Niekerk has enjoyed a largely successful 12 months and looks likely to add a double to his 2022 tally, beginning with Simply Beautiful in Race 1.
She has the benefit of race experience over many of her rivals and boasts solid form to boot. A 2,5kg sex allowance from her male counterparts will also stand her in good stead and could pave the way to a deserved maiden success with Van Niekerk in the irons.
Selukwe shouldn’t be a maiden for much longer either and it could pay to follow his progress as he bids to open his account in Race 3 over 1600m.
Andre Nel’s charge has finished second in both of his outings over the distance and this son of Pomodoro should make it third time lucky over the ‘mile.’
The Brett Crawford, Louis Mxothwa and Hollywood Syndicate triumvirate struck gold in the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas earlier this month and may land themselves back in the winners’ enclosure with Allende in Race 2.
This three-year-old Dynasty filly has been threatening to shed her maiden tag and has finished close-up in races over 1400m and 1600m. She reverts to 1200m for the first time since her debut outing, when fourth over the course and distance, and that could prove a shrewd move by connections.
Sharapova is closely matched on the form a recent meeting over 1400m so including the pair in Swinger and Exacta bets should also prove profitable.
Aldo Domeyer and Candice Bass-Robinson, the winning Cape Guineas jockey-trainer combination, should have the last laugh by taking out Race 8 with Charlie Malone.
A fast-finishing second over the course and distance last time out, this well-bred Querari-gelding should confirm his superiority over Cheeky Laddie despite a 3kg weight turnaround.
